Team of the Week

It wasn’t a great week for the fortunes of Americas players. Few were found in starting lineups across Europe and fewer stood out. The Jaguares weren’t especially sharp against the Blues either, but we think we’ve managed to staple together a half-decent XV between the North and the South.

1 – Marcos Ayerza (Leicester) Came on at halftime with his team down by two tries and helped turn the ride as Tigers came back to beat Gloucester by five points. Put in several tackles on the fringes and worked hard as a support man going forward.

2 – Julián Montoya (Jaguares) Stepped in for Captain Creevy and put in a very solid effort, he’s forgiven for two dropped balls in the loose. Carried strongly and accurate at the set piece.

3 – Leandro Assi (Provence) A second consecutive 80 minute performance sadly unrewarded as Mont-de-Marsan kicked a last minute penalty to steal the win. Assi won the scrum battle and put in more than his share in the loose. If Provence are relegated, he should be a target for other clubs.

4 – Tomás Lavanini (Jaguares) Honourable mention for Rodrigo Capó Ortega of Castres, but the big man must be included for another furious outing against the Blues. Put in several thunderous hits, some borderline in terms of legality, and terrified any opponents near the contact area.

5 – Mariano Galarza (Gloucester) Another disappointed to see his team lose. Typical quality in the lineout, he offered himself as a carrier on several occasions and put in a number of tackles.

6 – Pablo Matera (Jaguares) Called into the starting lineup after Tomás Lezana was injured in the warm-up, Matera was more than happy to oblige. Made several barging carries and put in a couple smashing tackles of his own.

7 – Andrew Durutalo (Sunwolves) Perhaps not quite as influential as in recent weeks, but still the pick of the Sunwolves pack in the narrow loss to the Kings. Prominent both as a carrier and link man.

8 – Leonardo Senatore (Jaguares) Like Montoya he is forgiven for an unfortunate knock-on. Otherwise the pack leader had a strong game carrying, distributing, and defending.

9 – Tomás Cubelli (Brumbies) Tough call with the Jaguares pair of Martín Landajo and Gonzalo Bertranou also in contention. The Brumbies had an off-day against the Chiefs but Cubelli was still class, threatening at the fringes and constantly tracking back as a cover defender.

10 – Benjamín Urdapilleta (Castres) An excellent outing to lead his team to a crucial victory over Toulouse. Kicked all 15 points including a penalty from beyond half-way and a drop goal to finish it off.

11 – Manuel Montero (Jaguares) His first game back in more than six months was a success. Had several strong carries over the gainline and attracted multiple defenders. Will get better in the weeks to come as he regains match sharpness.

12 – Ciaran Hearn (London Irish) Played at 13 but moves inside one on this team. Carried well and held up his end of the bargain in defense. The Exiles very nearly pulled off an upset over Sale but Hearn could only watch as his forwards crumbled in the final 10 minutes.

13 – Marcelo Bosch (Saracens) Enjoyed a pretty easy day at the office, with little to worry about in a dominant win over Bath at the Rec. Made inroads with every carry and cut down a half-dozen attackers.

14 – Jeff Hassler (Ospreys) Stepped in for Eli Walker in a late change before the match, he looked in good form with four strong carries and a try in the first half. Unfortunately for Canadian fans he limped off with a leg injury just before the break, a worrying sign ahead of the June internationals.

15 – Matt Evans (Cornish Pirates) Another week, another try… another yellow card? With his fourth try in four games, and his ninth of the season, he also collected his fifth yellow, and it’s not clear which is more impressive given that he’s an outside back! Jokes aside, he was in cracking form with ball in hand yet again as Pirates came up just short in a shoot-out against Bedford Blues.